Baoshan Ginseng

Baoshan Ginseng

　　Also known as: Club-shaped root, mountain ginseng, cultivated ginseng, renjie, ghost cap, yellow ginseng, jade essence, blood ginseng, earth essence, golden well jade rail, child ginseng, skin-tail ginseng, sun-dried ginseng, transplanted ginseng. Usage tips: For oral use: decoct in soup, 3 to 10 grams (up to 30 grams for large dosage), preferably decoct separately and mix in; grind into powder, 1 to 3 grams; or prepare as paste, soak in liquor, or make into pills or powders.

Introduction to Ginseng Knowledge:

Ginseng is the root of the plant Panax ginseng of the Araliaceae family. Cultivated ginseng is called “cultivated ginseng,” while wild ginseng is called “mountain ginseng.” It is mostly harvested in autumn, then cleaned. Cultivated ginseng is dried in the sun or by baking, and is called “sun-dried ginseng.” Mountain ginseng that is dried in the sun is called “sun-dried mountain ginseng.” When treated with hot water and soaked in sugar before drying, it is called “white sugar ginseng.” When steamed and then dried or baked, it is called “red ginseng.” Wild ginseng grows in the deep mountains of Northeast China, but it is now extensively cultivated in Liaoning and Jilin.

Suitable People for Ginseng:

1. Suitable for those who are physically weak, have insufficient qi and blood, experience shortness of breath, suffer from anemia, or have neurasthenia.

2. Not suitable for those with excess heat syndrome, damp-heat syndrome, or those whose vital energy is not deficient.

Edible Therapeutic Effects of Ginseng:

Ginseng tastes sweet and slightly bitter, has a slightly warm nature, and affects the spleen, lung, heart, and kidney meridians. It is energetically potent and moistening, with more ascending properties than descending ones.

It has the effects of replenishing qi and consolidating collapse, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the lungs, calming the mind and improving intelligence, nourishing blood and promoting fluid production.

It is used to treat conditions such as near-collapse of vital energy caused by serious illness, long-term illness, blood loss, or fluid depletion, resulting in exhaustion, fatigue, and weak pulse; poor appetite and fatigue due to insufficient spleen qi; shortness of breath and wheezing, weak cough due to weak lung qi; insomnia, frequent dreams, palpitations, forgetfulness, and physical weakness with excessive sweating due to weak heart qi; dry mouth and thirst, diabetes due to fluid deficiency; sallow complexion and dizziness due to blood deficiency; impotence and frequent urination due to kidney deficiency; and external contraction due to qi deficiency.

Foods That Counteract Ginseng:

Ginseng should not be taken with tea, and it counteracts Veratrum nigrum. It is incompatible with Trogopterus Dung, fears Gleditsia sinensis and Alkali, and reacts with black beans and Amethyst.

Cooking Instructions for Ginseng:

1. Ginseng can greatly replenish vital energy, rescue from collapse, and is the top remedy for treating debility. It is commonly used for symptoms such as near-collapse of vital energy, fatigue, and weak pulse. In cases of serious illness, long-term illness, blood loss, or sweating, vomiting, and purging that lead to pale complexion, lethargy, persistent bleeding, and weak pulse on the verge of collapse, this product can be used alone by decocting it urgently.

2. For those with spleen deficiency, poor appetite, sallow complexion, thin body, and fatigue, it can be combined with Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis to tonify the middle and benefit qi.

3. Avoid using iron utensils; do not decoct with iron or aluminum pots.

4. Use prepared ginseng for tonifying, and raw ginseng for clearing heat.